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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. WHEELER. GOMBINED PAPER KNIFE, GLIP, AND BOOK REST. No. 341,976. Patented May 18. 1886.

ffiMJJd fwwm (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. WHEELER.

GOMBINED PAPER KNIFE, CLIP, AND BOOK REST. No. 341,976. Patented May 18. 1886.

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N. PETERS. Plwlwliihographur. Washingialv. D, C

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. WHEELER. EOMBINED PAPER KNIFE, CLIP, AND BOOK BEST. No. 341,976. Patented May 18, 1886.

- fw/wn N PETERS, Philioillhugmphon \Vnshmgfln. D. C.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. WHEELER. COMBINED PAPER KNIFE, GLIP, AND BOOK REST. No. 341,976. Patented Maywl8, 1886.

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' llNirEn Marne Parnwr Utmost JAMES \VHEELEB, OF ILFRAOOMBE, COUNTY OF DEVON, ENGLAND.

COMBINED PAPER KNIFE, CLIP, AND BOOK REST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 34:1,976, dated May 18, 1886.

Application filed October 31, 1885. Serial No. 181,547. (No model.) Patented in England November 25, 1884, No. 15,539:

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES WHEELER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at llfracornbe, in the county of Devon, England, have invented a new and useful Combined Paper Knife, Clip, and Book-Rest, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a paper-knife which, besides the purpose for which a paper-knife is generally used-viz., for cutting paper-can also be used as a paper clip or holder and a book-rest.

In carrying out my invention, instead of connecting the handle of the knife direct to the blade thereof, I form or provide between these two portions of the knife an intermediate portion adapted to receive a clip, which clip may consist of a plate having a spring hinge or joint, the said plate being of about the length of the said intermediate part, the hinged end of the said plate carrying a tail or projection forming a stop, whereby it can be held at a right angle to the knife.

Between each end of the intermediate part and the blade and handle, respectively, of the knife I provide projections, those on the bandle forming stops for the hand and those on the blade serving to limit the play of the blade and keep the plate from coming between the paper being cut.

In order to enable my invention to be fully understood,I will proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawings,

in which* Figures 1 and 2 are plans showing two ex' amples of a combined paper knife, clip, and book-rest constructed according to my invention, the hinged plate being shown in its lowcred position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 4 an elevation, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is an elevation showing the hinged plate in its raised position. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the appara tus shown in Fig. 2. The views shown in Figs. 3 and 6 represent the clips holding a number of papers or the like. Fig. 7 illustrates the manner in which the device is used for holding a book.

Similar letters in all the figures represent similar or corresponding parts.

a is the handle, and b the blade of-the knife, which, instead of being directly connected together, areformed with an intermediate portion, 0, between them.

at d represent the plate, mounted upon and of about the length of the intermediate portion, 0. The said plate is jointed at e to a plate, f, screwed to the intermediate portion by screws g g, and provided with a spring, h, bearing upon a projecting part, i, of the plate d.

j is the tail or projection on the hinged end of the plate (1 cl, the said tail or projection j forming a stop, whereby the plate can be maintained at about a right angle to the knife, and is enabled to bear the weight of a book when used as a bookrest.

7.; 7c are the projections between one end of the intermediate part, c, and the blade b, and Z Z are the projections between the other end of the said part c and the handle a. The projections It serve to limit the play of the blade I) and keep the plate d cl from coming in contact with the leaves or paper being out. The projections Z form stops for the hand when using the knife.

m is a hole or perforation in the end of the handle of the knife, by which the knife and clip can be suspended when holding manuscript while copying the same, or at other times. By this construction, when the plate d d is in its lowered position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, the paper-knives can be used forthe usual purpose of cutting paper, or, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, as a spring paperclip for holding loose papers, for which latter purpose the papers to be held must be placed between the plate d (1 and the intermediate portion, 0, when the plate (Z d will act as a spring clip, so as to firmly hold the said papers; or, if the plate (I d, forming the clip, be opened out at about a right angle to the knife, as shown in Fig. .3, it may serve the purpose of a book-rest. For this purpose the handle a should be grasped with one hand, with the knife in an inclined position and the edge of the book resting on the plated d, the book being held in position, if necessary, by means of the other hand.

The knife may be made wholly or partly of metal or other suitable material and of any suitable pattern, or the parts forming the hinged plate at d, or some of them, may be made of glass, horn, or other transparent material, whereby writing or the like on papers held by the clip can be read through the same. Instead of fixing the spring-clip to an intermediate portion, 0, between the handle a and the blade I) of the knife, as hereinbefore described and shown, I sometimes apply it to the blade itself or to the handle of the knife.

In order to enable the clip d d to take a better hold on or against the paper or the like, I pivot the part (1 of the clip at a to the end of the part d thereof, the said part (1 forming a pivoted clip or plate, so that when the hinged plate (2 d is closed the said pivoted clip (1 will be pressed flatwise against the papers, instead of by the extreme edge only, as hitherto. A spring, 0, which may be flat, as shown in the drawings, or spiral, is provided, for bringing the pivoted clip or part d into its proper position when the hinged plate dd is opened.

Although I have shown this improved construction of paper clip or holder applied for use in combination with a paper-knife, it will be obvious that with a slight modification it is equally applicable as a paper clip or holder alone. By this arrangement I not only provide a clip which takes a better hold on the article to be held or fietl, but, there being no sharp edge to press against the papers or the like, there is less risk of the same being torn.

In some cases the pivoted part (1 of the clip can with advantage be corrugated or otherwise serrated on its under surface, or be provided with an india-rubber lining, or be formed with apertures in which I place small rubber 'in what manner the same is to be performed, I

declare that what I claim is- 1. A paper-knife having the projection 70 Z, and having jointed to it a hinged plate or clip, (Z d, the portion (1 of which has a stop, j, whereby the broad part (1 may, when desired, be maintained at about a right angle to the knife, and thus serve as a book rest or support, and this part d also serving, when in its lowered position and in connection with the parts 7., as a paper-eli p, all as set forth.

2. A paper-knife made with an intermediate portion between the blade and the handle, and having attached to such intermediate portion ajointed spring clip or plate for holding papers, substantially as shown and described, and for the purposes set forth 3. In a combined paper-cutter and paper clip or holder having an intermediate portion between the cutter and its handle, a plate, d d,

the part d of which is hinged to this intermediate portion and the part d of which is hinged to d, and a spring serving to sustain the part (I in its required position when the clip is opened, all substantially as set forth.

r JAMES WHEELER. Witnesses:

W. M. OARDER, M. B. DAVIE. 

